Welcome back friends,

Early voting in Texas has surged past recent midterm and presidential benchmarks, with Democratic ballots currently outpacing Republican participation and fueling new debate over enthusiasm, turnout dynamics and what the numbers could signal for November. At the same time, the State Board of Education has approved more than 4,000 revisions to the state-developed Bluebonnet curriculum, reigniting scrutiny over oversight, taxpayer costs and how religion and American history are presented in public schools. Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott praised President Trump’s 2026 State of the Union address and highlighted Texas’ alignment on border security, school choice and economic policy, underscoring the continued political partnership as Trump prepares to visit the state ahead of the primaries.

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SXSW is where technology, culture, and public policy intersect.

For years, government and civic engagement have had a presence at the conference through dedicated programming focused on public service, digital democracy, and civic technology.

What’s different in 2026 is the maturity of the AI conversation. Artificial intelligence is no longer siloed to startup demos or speculative ethics panels. It is embedded across events program tracks from enterprise technology to creative industries to public institutions. And government is part of that broader shift. Many sessions in the Tech and AI Track bring together governance and AI.

See the 2026 Schedule

AI Is Moving From Theory to Operational Reality

At SXSW this year, you’ll see:

• More dedicated Government & Civic Engagement programming

• Panels on responsible AI and public sector deployment

• Cross-sector discussions on AI implementation and governance

• Technology leaders speaking alongside public servants

The signal is clear: AI is no longer a future conversation for government.
It’s an operational one.

Across state legislatures and agencies, the volume of information is accelerating. Thousands of hours of hearings happen simultaneously. Amendments evolve in real time. Expectations for responsiveness continue to rise.

Technology experts, legislators, and government affairs leaders from across the country will spend the week asking: How do we deploy AI responsibly, securely, and in ways that strengthen institutional effectiveness?

We are excited to join the conversation!

USLege Founder and CBO, Laura Davis, has been selected to speak at SXSW 2026 on the panel: From Policy to Practice: AI Implementation in Government. This panel brings together leaders at the intersection of technology and public service to discuss what it actually takes to implement AI inside government. Going beyond headlines and hype to get realistic.

Learn more about the panel.

Because successful AI adoption in government requires:

• Security

• Nonpartisan design

• Practical workflow integration

• Clear human oversight

AI in government is no longer a thought experiment. We are automating the work that isn’t human, so everyone can focus on the work that is. Learn more about the panel here.

Join Our SXSW Recap + Live Platform Walkthrough

If you’ll be in Austin, we’d love to meet and please come to the panel. If you can’t attend, we’re hosting a live webinar later this month. Recap key themes from SXSW’s AI + Government conversations Share what we’re seeing nationally in legislative AI implementation Demonstrate how USLege operationalizes AI across hearings, bills, and alerts Answer your questions live

If your team is evaluating how AI fits into your government affairs strategy, this session will provide clarity grounded in real use cases.

Government is entering its infrastructure era.

The teams who embrace technology thoughtfully will move faster, see more, and stay ahead.

We’re excited to help lead that shift.

Cheers,

Team USLege

Welcome back friends

Sen. John Cornyn is closing his Republican Senate primary campaign by warning that a Ken Paxton nomination could jeopardize GOP success across Texas in November, while Paxton allies argue he is best positioned to energize conservative turnout in a race highlighting competing strategies for maintaining Republican dominance statewide. In the Republican contest for Texas attorney general, the four leading candidates largely agreed on core conservative policies but used a recent forum to intensify clashes over experience, political loyalty, and campaign credibility. Meanwhile, Texas is emerging as a national testing ground for small modular nuclear reactors, with state leaders and private companies betting the technology can meet surging electricity demand.

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🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

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Welcome back, friends

A crowded Republican primary to replace U.S. Rep. Chip Roy is taking shape as former MLB star Mark Teixeira pours millions into his campaign and secures endorsements from President Trump and Gov. Abbott, positioning himself as the early frontrunner in a race that will likely decide the next representative for the solidly red district. At the same time, federal regulators have launched an inquiry into ABC’s The View after it interviewed Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton is suing a Bastrop rendering plant over emissions described by residents as overwhelming and harmful, escalating a high-profile environmental dispute that has drawn hundreds of complaints and could result in significant penalties for the company.

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Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

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Welcome back friends,

Democrat’s 14-point victory in a traditionally Republican Tarrant County Texas Senate district is drawing statewide attention as both parties analyze what the upset could signal about turnout, suburban voters, and shifting coalitions ahead of November. At the Capitol, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick has issued the first round of interim charges guiding Senate committees’ work before the 2027 session, outlining early priorities such as property taxes, infrastructure, education, and state governance. Meanwhile in Austin, city leaders have launched a multiyear overhaul of Congress Avenue aimed at transforming one of Texas’ most prominent corridors with expanded pedestrian space, protected bikeways and long-term plans for a redesigned downtown civic hub.

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Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

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Welcome back, friends,

Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a statewide freeze on new H-1B visa applications at Texas public universities and state agencies. In the Democratic race for lieutenant governor, steelworkers union leader Marcos Vélez is gaining traction with major labor backing and fresh scrutiny over fundraising ties linked to Texas Majority PAC as the primary nears. Lastly, Abbott says the White House is developing a plan to “recalibrate” ICE enforcement after fallout in Minnesota, as Texas simultaneously weighs billions more for Operation Lone Star and its ongoing border strategy.

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Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

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Welcome back, friends

Texas is facing a pivotal legal test over its election system as Republicans seek to end open primaries, a move that supporters frame as protecting party autonomy and critics warn could create new barriers to voter participation. At the same time, federal officials are considering a land exchange that would allow SpaceX to expand its South Texas launch site, renewing debate over how to balance economic growth with the preservation of sensitive wildlife habitat along the Gulf Coast. Lastly, a federal judge has blocked a new Texas law regulating children’s access to app stores, underscoring the ongoing uncertainty over how far states can go in policing online safety without infringing on constitutional rights.

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Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

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You can follow USLege on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

Welcome back, friends

Southwest Airlines plans to open a new pilot and flight attendant crew base at Austin Bergstrom International Airport, bringing up to 2,000 high-paying jobs to Central Texas as part of a state and city-backed economic development deal. Texas has also escalated its long-running legal fight over abortion access, filing a federal lawsuit that challenges the FDA’s approval of mifepristone and raises questions that could ripple far beyond the state. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump used a prime-time address to frame economic affordability as the defining issue of his presidency, arguing his policies are beginning to reverse rising costs as the 2026 midterm elections approach.

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Link to full transcribed address via USLege can be found here

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Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

Say goodbye to tedious tasks!

You can follow USLege on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.

Welcome back, friends

Michael and Susan Dell’s unprecedented $6.25 billion pledge to expand federal “Trump Accounts” aims to boost long-term savings for 25 million American children. In Lubbock, Texas Tech’s new classroom restrictions on race, gender identity, and sexuality have ignited an immediate clash over academic freedom and curriculum control. And in Northeast Texas, Rep. Gary VanDeaver’s decision not to seek reelection opens a pivotal Republican primary.

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Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

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Welcome back, friends

Texas voters approved one of the largest property tax relief packages in state history on Tuesday, raising the homestead exemption to $140,000 and granting new tax breaks for seniors, people with disabilities, and small businesses. In Austin, residents rejected Proposition Q, a plan to fund public safety, homelessness programs, and city facility initiatives through a property tax hike, forcing city leaders to rework the budget and brace for service cuts. Meanwhile, Bexar County voters narrowly passed Propositions A and B, greenlighting up to $311 million in tourism-funded support for a new downtown Spurs arena and upgrades to the Freeman Coliseum grounds.

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Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

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Welcome back friends,

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, one of the most influential and controversial figures in modern American politics, has died at 84, remembered by former President George W. Bush as a “patriot” whose intellect and conviction shaped decades of U.S. policy. In Texas, the Education Agency announced a sweeping takeover of Fort Worth ISD, the state’s second-largest intervention, citing years of academic underperformance and plans to install new local managers. And in Washington, a United Airlines flight was evacuated after a bomb threat, prompting an FBI investigation that later found no explosives, allowing operations to resume safely.

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Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

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Shoppers are adding to cart for the holidays

Over the next year, Roku predicts that 100% of the streaming audience will see ads. For growth marketers in 2026, CTV will remain an important “safe space” as AI creates widespread disruption in the search and social channels. Plus, easier access to self-serve CTV ad buying tools and targeting options will lead to a surge in locally-targeted streaming campaigns.

Read our guide to find out why growth marketers should make sure CTV is part of their 2026 media mix.

Learn more.

Great work in government affairs often happens behind the scenes… but not this time!

After hundreds of peer nominations and weeks of review, we’re proud to announce the winners of the USLege 2025 Best in Government Affairs Awards - Texas.

Unlike pay-to-play lists, these awards were 100% peer nominated and reviewed. That means recognition is based on real influence, results, and respect in the Capitol community; not sponsorships or fees.

These awards celebrate professionals across lobbying, legislative strategy, association leadership, and public affairs. These winners impact drives policy forward every day at the Texas Capitol. Click the button below to view the 2025 winners!

Award Categories

Top Hired Gun Lobbyists of the Year - These lobbyists are known for results! The sharpest strategists with trusted relationships, steady wins, and a reputation that speaks for itself. Rising Stars of the Year - These early-career pros are already playing at a senior level. They are the best of the next generation of Texas advocacy. Top Staffer of the Year - These winners are the problem solvers behind the policy. Masters of detail, judgment, and speed who make Texas government work. Association Champion of the Year -These leaders unite member voices and turn industry priorities into real influence. Strategic Communicator of the Year - Top experts in persuasion and precision. Proving the right message can move policy as powerfully as any vote. Female Powerhouse of the Year - Incredible women raising the bar for leadership, influence, and excellence in Texas government affairs. Lobby Legends - Icons of the industry whose careers, results, and mentorship have set the standard for decades. Policy Intelligence Leaders of the Year - Nominated by the USLege Team to honor those redefining what it means to stay ahead with technology.

At USLege, our mission is to make the work of government affairs professionals faster, smarter, and more efficient, allowing their strategic influence to shine even brighter. These awards are one way we honor that mission: by lifting up the voices powering Texas government every day. We’re grateful for everyone who participated, nominated peers, and shared in the recognition of this year’s winners. It’s been a privilege to celebrate such outstanding professionals shaping policy and public service across the state.

If you’d like to learn more about how USLege helps government relations teams stay informed and ahead, you can book time with our team here.

Cheers,

USLege Team

Welcome back friends,
Texas Sen. José Menéndez is defending a 2023 law that lets cities like San Antonio reinvest state tourism and hotel tax revenue into major projects, including a proposed $1.3 billion Spurs arena, saying it keeps the city competitive with others that have used similar funding to spur growth. Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, speaking in Fort Worth recently, cast himself as an independent voice challenging both parties and billionaires’ influence, as his tight primary race with Colin Allred gains national attention. Meanwhile, Attorney General Ken Paxton has sued Indiana resident Malcolm Tanner, accusing him of trying to take over Loving County by luring out-of-state residents with false promises of free homes in unsafe desert conditions.

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Austin-based energy startup Base Power announced it has raised $1 billion in new funding to expand its residential battery leasing business, positioning itself at the center of Texas’ fast-growing clean energy sector as demand surges nationwide. Meanwhile, Gov. Greg Abbott has authorized hundreds of Texas National Guard soldiers have been deployed to Illinois to assist federal immigration authorities in Chicago. And in education, Texas selected Odyssey, a national tech firm, to design and administer its new $1 billion school voucher program, the Texas Education Freedom Accounts.

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Busy isn’t the goal

Wing turns busy days into real progress. A full-time virtual assistant runs calendars, inboxes, and follow-ups, removing the drag that burns leaders out.

The result: more focus, more output, and the headspace to lead.

Make space to lead

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A three-judge federal panel in El Paso will open hearings Oct. 1 to decide whether Texas’ new congressional maps unlawfully dilute minority voting power. At the same time, the Texas Department of Public Safety announced it will stop issuing or renewing commercial driver’s licenses for DACA recipients, refugees, and asylum holders under a new federal directive. Lastly, Governor Abbott unveiled a $562 million low-interest loan from the Texas Energy Fund to NRG Energy, the largest awarded so far, to expand natural gas generation at Baytown’s Cedar Bayou station and help meet the state’s growing power demands.

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Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

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Welcome back, friends
Huston-Tillotson University will receive a record-breaking $150 million donation from the Moody Foundation, the largest gift ever to a single HBCU, to expand student housing, upgrade campus facilities, and increase scholarships as the Austin institution celebrates its 150th anniversary. Gov. Greg Abbott also signed HB 25, making Texas the fifth state to allow over-the-counter sales of ivermectin. On the same note, Abbott also signed HB 8 to replace the STAAR exam with three shorter assessments starting in 2027, a change aimed at reducing stress, providing faster feedback, and giving teachers more tools to support student learning.

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The USLege 2025 Best in Government Affairs Awards (Texas) celebrate the behind-the-scenes pros: staffers, lobbyists, association leaders, and firms who power late nights and early mornings in the Capitol!

Winners will be spotlighted on our 2025 webpage, receive a custom award badge + digital toolkit, and get promotion to 12k+ policy leaders and media partners. Nominations close October 2 - don’t miss the chance to recognize your peers!

Nominate someone today: https://uslege.involve.me/best-in-gov

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Bills and Business is your go-to podcast for conversations related to Texas legislation and business. Hosted by Laura Carr, Co-Founder of USLege—an AI-driven legislative tracking software—we bring you in-depth analysis on economic trends, impactful legislation, and key developments shaping Texas business.

Subscribe on Youtube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify for weekly episodes!

🔍 USLege - The Only AI-First Political Tracking Solution ✨

USLege helps you track legislation and find what you need faster from bills, committee hearings, floor debates, and state agency meetings faster.

Say goodbye to tedious tasks!

You can follow USLege on LinkedIn, Facebook, and X.